Nicola Tweedy was found collapsed in a chair at her home in Pulham Market in south Norfolk on March 31 - four days after day surgery at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital - and could not be resuscitated by paramedics.

An external review has been ordered into the 54-year-old’s death after a post mortem examination found that she had died from a pulmonary embolism.

Mrs Tweedy’s husband, Chris, has made an official complaint to the hospital and hired law firm Ashton KCJ to represent him at a forthcoming inquest and in any subsequent legal proceedings.

Mr Tweedy is querying the procedures before and after his wife’s varicose veins surgery on March 27, which resulted in her being discharged later that day.

Sharon Allison, medical negligence solicitor of Ashton KCJ, said: “The family are understandably bereft at their loss and want to understand more of the circumstances surrounding Nicola’s treatment and care. They want to know whether all that could have been done was done to minimise the risk of a pulmonary embolism following her surgery. We will be assisting the coroner at the forthcoming inquest in determining the facts about this very tragic case.”

Anna Dugdale, chief executive of the N&N, said: “Our sympathies are with Mr Tweedy and his family for their tragic loss. We have provided Mr Tweedy with a full copy of his wife’s medical notes, responded to his initial questions and met with him. Mr Tweedy has raised a number of further detailed questions through the formal complaints process, about the care of his wife, and we are assembling the evidence to answer these questions. In addition, we have commissioned an external expert review, as part of our commitment to openness, transparency and continuous learning.”